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SOIL pH madness, can't get it down...

I've struggled with low pH in the past - growing in coco. Last crop it plummeted to 4.0! It took a long time to get it back up. Caveat: I am not recommending what I did to try to fix it. Just sharing a newbie experience.

I ended up watering with 8.0 for a couple of weeks, with heavy runoff both water and nutes and it finally started getting into the 5.5-6.0 range. I was stunned by how long it took. I had pretty bad Mg deficiency in one of the plants and less so in others.

So this grow I have been working to catch it before it goes off the rails. I've had it a touch high, and a touch low so I've been fluctuation on my pH of water/nutes to keep it in range: 6.0-6.2 to raise - 5-4.5 to lower. Not optimum and maybe next grow I can dial it in to 6.0 everytime. To dream... :) I do however champion the others who have said check your runoff. I check it every watering to see how it's moving. It doesn't take long to do and I'm usually waiting to catch the runoff any way. I also treat all my plants the same way (though with different strains) and they all read a little different. I think that's normal.

Also, I use tap that tests at 8.0 that comes straight from an aquifer. So I use a lot of pH down.

Your not alone in having pH problems. :) You'll get it under control and learn a ton for the next round.
 
Mornin' everyone and thank you so much for your interest!

As DingusKahn pointed out, I obviously don't have the experience and the knowledge to just pH in and forget. My plants are telling me i've been doing it wrong.
I'm tanking knowledge for my next crop, and I'm really looking forward to put it into practice but I'm also quite worried about this crop.

They still have 5 weeks to go before harvest and I really want to do everything i can to improve the situation.

I'm still waiting for the soil to completely dry out but it's worsening every day and it's spreading downward. I posted a few pictures just for the sake of documenting.

Tomorrow i'll be able to flush them as some of you recommended but i have 2 last questions before flushing them.
  • Should i follow Nebula's tutorial about flushing sick plants and flush with 3 times pot volume of 1/4 nutrient mix and a last batch ofregular strength nutrients at the end or just plain water and start feeding again after it dried out?
  • Should i remove sickest fan leaves at the top of the plants?
 

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Morning kidane, if you are going to flush, what are you waiting for your soil to dry for ? Are you sure you got to flush? I ain't read your post good ,sorry I'm fixing to.
 
After reading it, your runoff ain't even out bad, flushing ain't good ,unless you just got to, if she was mine, I would just try feeding at high5s low 6ph, an see if that want straighten your runoff out pretty soon, without flushing.
But if you do think you want to flush, then yes do as Nebula says, quarter strength an then full . Sounds like you know what's going on, she's gonna be ok, you got some time, .
 
Hi DAAS, i'm not sure about anything right now, so i rely heavily on given advice, which is : it looks like nutes lock out, flush with ph'd water as soon as the soil is dry enough... but i'm still open to new ideas.
 
And actually i really don't know what's going on... All i know is something's not right.
Maybe i'll flush the sickest plants and do as you said for the less sick ones so i can compare how they react...
I'll sleep on that and see tomorrow
 
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Could very well be Deadhead plants suck up a lot of that to distribute it to colas so if it's not getting enough it will take it from those leaves and the leaves then die off. Sometimes a good sign but 5weeks to go not sure it is.
 
Hi, Nitrogen deficiency would show on bottom leaves first, right? Or can it start from the top too?
Here it's spreading downward, top leaves were affected first and bottom leaves are still fine.
I stopped the grow nutrients last feeding (4th week of flowering, just after stretch was over) was it too early?
 
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If you flush, it always helps to follow Nebula. It might also help to add some enzyme root cleaner, oxygenate your water, and add beneficial bacteria.

When your done, or to speed up drying before you start flushing, set your smart pots on top of some airstones and blow bubbles up their butts. If not in smart pots, poke the ends of the air tubing up into the drain holes a few inches and pump in air.
 
I postponed the flushing. I fed the healthiest normaly and run off was in range, i fed the others and they were all in range, so i'll wait before doing anything drastic and see if they get better.
 
Good deal, if you can get your runoff ph right, the way you did, it's alot easier on your plants than flushing.
I hope your plants respond, now to feeding like they are supposed to. GoodLuck
Plus if you would have flushed, your plants would still be drooping for the next few days, instead of growing.
 
You're about right on (maybe a tad early) cutting nitrogen to my schedule. I normally start to step it down each week through the 4th or 5th week of flower.
 
Been following your comments and posts, and am glad to here things are looking up now. I myself have been having a few issues but after watching a video a few nights ago I now am beginning to look better myself. MY issues was as I thought a zinc def... but i now beleive it was a simple case of haveing my lights to close to my girls, i moved lights up a few inches 2 nights ago and since mine are happy. Good luck.
 
Some people told me that it looked like light burn too, but i'm growing under 12 bulbs CFL 23W 1600 lumen so 280W and the bulbs are 5/10 cm away from plants.
Do you really think these CFLs could cause light burn?
 
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